Freshman Walsh Urged to Move to Illinois 14th District

The Club for Growth encouraged freshman Rep. Joe Walsh (R-Ill.) Wednesday to run in the redrawn 14th district next year — a move that would likely pit him against another freshman Republican.

The club announced Wednesday it will “enthusiastically support” Walsh’s campaign for the 14th district if the newly redrawn map holds up in court.

Illinois Democrats passed a new Congressional map earlier this year that moved Walsh and fellow Republican freshman Rep. Randy Hultgren into the GOP-leaning 14th district. Neither Republican committed to run in that district yet, but Illinois insiders speculated Walsh might run in the Democratic-leaning 8th instead. Some of Walsh’s current territory lies in the 8th. The club made it clear it would prefer Walsh to run in the 14th.

“If the district lines in Illinois as passed by the Democrats end up being upheld, then Club for Growth PAC will enthusiastically support Congressman Walsh for re-election in the 14th Congressional District,” Club for Growth President Chris Chocola said in a statement.

The club released its statement the same day Illinois Republicans filed a lawsuit to overturn Democrats’ redraw of the Congressional map.